Once ticket deposit receipt (TDR) is issued after cancellation of a ticket, Railways is bound to refund the fare within reasonable time and failing to do so is a clear case of deficiency, a consumer forum here has said.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum made the observation while directing the Railways to pay Rs 16,300, including refund, to a complainant for not returning the fare for the tickets he booked in 2010 despite issuing a TDR and assuring him that payment would be made within 90 days.

"As per guidelines, waitlisted tickets on being cancelled due to not availing of journey and TDR is issued to the complainant, railways is bound to return the fare in reasonable time failing which it is clear case of deficiency adopted by railway officials.

"The complainant is waiting for refund for last three years. This is serious imperfection in services. Keeping this in view, opposite party (railways) has to refund Rs 1,300 (the fare). We also award Rs 15,000 as compensation for deficiency and litigation expenses," a bench presided by C K Chaturvedi said.

The order came on the complaint of Delhi resident Pradeep Saraswat, who had said that he had cancelled his and his wife's waitlisted tickets back in 2010 and was issued a TDR regarding the same with an assurance that refund would be made within 90 days.

However, no payment was made by the railways, he had alleged.

Railways in their defence had contended that the TDR issued to him was wrong and that TDR does not guarantee refund.